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Enhancing Analytical Evidence on Diet and Nutrition Challenges from Food Systems Perspectives in Response to COVID-19 - TCP/RER/3805

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 8

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Synopsis (short abstract) Countries in the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Western Balkans are experiencing a rapid shift in dietary consumption, coinciding with economic and demographic changes. Over the past decade there has been a sharp increase in dietary energy derived from animal products, vegetable oils and sweeteners. Obesity in the Central Asia subregion grew rapidly (41 percent) between 2000 and 2014, and the situation in the Western Balkans is even worse. Obesity in Montenegro and Serbia is among the highest in Europe, at 25 percent and 23 percent, respectively. Child obesity is also high in Central Asia (11 percent), the second highest subregion globally. If this trend continues, obesity will become a significant problem, increasing the risk in these countries of non-communicable diseases, which are today responsible for over 80 percent of deaths. Undernutrition also persists in many countries in the region, particularly in lower middle income countries. Child stunting is relatively high among disadvantaged subgroups, such as those in lower wealth quintiles. The prevalence of anaemia among women in reproductive age had been steadily falling in many countries until around 2010, but has recently increased, while micronutrient deficiencies are often more common in countries with poor dietary diversity. In addition, recent studies in the region show that the reduced purchasing power of the most vulnerable households as a result of loss of employment, wage cuts and increased prices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has had direct effects on the quality of nutrition.

Language English

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